How Big of An Impact Does Nizoral Have?

[Jamsonjams]

Ive had a receding hairline for a couple of years and recently started rogaine, and am now thinking of starting Nizoral shampoo. How large of an impact with it have on my receding hairline? I've always had pretty greasy hair, and really bad dandruff, how do you think Nizoral would do for my hair?

 

[Captain Hook]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9669136

Your mileage may vary but this study shows 2% ketoconazole (Nizoral) shampoo is as effective as 2% minoxidil in terms of regrowth. Keep in mind this is with 2-4x weekly usage compared to twice daily 2% minoxidil usage, this is remarkable due to the fact that ketoconazole is able to persist in the epidermal layers in the scalp for several days (~4-10 days, reference: Kucer's The Use of Antibiotics medical text, among others, check my story thread for more Nizoral studies) so it forgoes the need for daily use.

In addition it inhibits DHT activity in the scalp via enzyme inhibition and weak androgen receptor antagonism. It's not expensive, $20 for a 100 mL bottle which should last you quite a while if you're only shampooing with 6 mL twice weekly. It's one of those things that can't hurt and can definitely add a boost to your regimen, in addition the fact that it promotes a clean scalp environment by reducing proliferation of Malassezia furfur (the fungus that causes seborrhoeic dermatitis) so you get a lot of benefits with very little negatives.

The only negatives of Nizoral is possible sensitivity to SLS, if you aren't sensitive to this ingredient then you should have no problems using it. The drying effect it and other ketoconazole shampoos have can be mitigated by using a moisturising conditioner that's left on the scalp for 2-3 minutes after using Nizoral.

 

[Jamsonjams]

Does it work better on people with generally greasy hair?

 

[Captain Hook]

Nizoral doesn't even contain SLS, it has SLES which isn't as harmful. I'm sensitive to SLS and sulphates in general but SLES is a lot less harmful to my scalp than the former.

SLES is sodium lauryl ether sulphate and SLS is sodium laureth sulphate which some 2% ketoconazole shampoos contain. Read the package insert, it varies for different countries, some contain neither and contain disodium monolauryl ether sulphosuccinate as a detergent instead. Try not to speak in absolutes. Notice I didn't even say Nizoral contained SLS, I said if you are sensitive to SLS you may be sensitive to Nizoral as it contains sulphates.

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/spcpil/documents/spcpil/con1428387411184.pdf

Nitpicking aside, it contains sulphates, compounds whose inflammatory properties are vastly overblown by people in forums and beyond. I've been using shampoos with sulphates in them for my entire life and have had no problems.

 

[selmore72]

Does it work better on people with generally greasy hair?

Can't say if it will work better but may help with the reduce the sebum.